Russia sends unscheduled aid convoy to Donbas
MOSCOW. March 13 (Interfax) - The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry has sent an unscheduled humanitarian aid convoy to the south-east of Ukraine, deputy director of the ministry's National Crisis Management Center Oleg Voronov told Interfax on Friday.
"The trucks have left the Don rescue center of the Emergency Situations Ministry and are heading to the state border," he said.
The convoy consists of more than 50 vehicles, which will bring over 250 tonnes of humanitarian aid to the Donetsk and Luhansk regions to support the sowing of spring crops, the civilian population, and restoration of social infrastructures, Voronov said.
"Before crossing the border, the convoy will split into two parts: the first group of trucks will travel to the Matveyev Kurgan checkpoint, where it will undergo customs clearance and then proceed to Donetsk," he said.
The trucks will deliver the same amount of supplies to the two regions, he added.
The ministry explained the unscheduled relief by the problems experienced by Donbas in the spring sowing and extensive damage done to its populated areas, which are in need of construction materials to restore homes and social infrastructures.